The Complete List of Inductees & Honorees for the 22nd Annual Living Legends of Aviation® Awards are Announced
From trailblazing astronauts and aviation leaders to the pinnacle of military flying, these remarkable men and women have made profound contributions to the world of flight. We are honored to recognize their achievements and invite you to celebrate their stories of dedication and excellence as we prepare for the Living Legends of Aviation® Awards. John Travolta is our Host and the Official Ambassador of Aviation.
Inductees
Eileen M. Collins
Inductee into the Living Legends of Aviation®
Eileen M. Collins, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, is celebrated as the first female pilot and commander of a NASA space shuttle. A decorated astronaut, she piloted four shuttle missions, including the 1999 deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the 2005 "Return to Flight" mission. Collins has logged over 6,751 hours in 30 aircraft and 872 hours in space.
Robert "Hoot" Gibson
Inductee into the Living Legends of Aviation®
Captain Robert "Hoot" Gibson, USN, is a decorated Navy fighter pilot, veteran astronaut, and race pilot. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Gibson flew five space shuttle missions, including the first docking with the Russian Space Station Mir in 1995. His aviation career spans over 14,000 flight hours in 160+ aircraft. As a Reno Air Race champion, airline pilot, and astronaut.
Chris Cassidy
Inductee into the Living Legends of Aviation®
Captain Chris Cassidy, a former NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL, is a veteran of three spaceflights and ten spacewalks, logging 377 days in space. A Naval Academy graduate, Cassidy earned a master's in ocean engineering from MIT. His leadership includes commanding a SEAL platoon and serving as NASA's 14th Chief Astronaut. Cassidy's honors include the Bronze Star with combat "y" for his service in Afghanistan.
Aaron Tippin
Inductee into the Living Legends of Aviation®
While perhaps more widely known as a country music superstar, it comes as no surprise that Aaron Tippin is first and foremost an aviator. Aaron and his family established Tennessee Flying Machines at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB) in Sparta, Tenn., offering a flight school, ride/flight tours in Aaron's fleet of vintage aircraft, maintenance, restoration and other services that share and preserve Aaron's love for aviation.
HONOREES
The Polaris Dawn Mission Crew
Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award
Commander Jared Isaacman, Mission Pilot Scott 'Kidd' Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon are the inaugural recipients of the Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award for their outstanding achievements with the Polaris Dawn Mission. Their historic mission, Polaris Dawn, included cutting-edge experiments, high-altitude orbital maneuvers, and, most notably, the first private spacewalk. The team's work has paved the way for future commercial and scientific space endeavors, laying the groundwork for humanity's eventual journey to Mars and beyond.
Lieutenant Commander Amanda "Stalin" Lee
Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award
Lieutenant Commander Amanda Lee is a native of Mounds View, Minnesota. Amanda joined the Blue Angels as their first female demonstration pilot in September 2022. She has accumulated more than 1,360 flight hours and over 225 carrier-arrested landings. Her decorations include four Navy Achievement medals and various personal and unit awards.
Kaye Gitibin Eren Ozmen Aviation
Entrepreneur of The Year Award
Kaye Gitibin is the CEO and cofounder of Go Rentals, the only vehicle rental company in the world specializing in private aviation and the only one with NATA Safety First certification.
Founded in 1995 by Kaye and his brother, Go Rentals began with a small fleet of cars and a vision to redefine vehicle rental experiences through unmatched service.
Louis Pepper, Atlantic Aviation
Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award
Louis Pepper built Atlantic Aviation into one of the nation's largest general aviation companies and helped redefine the concept of a World Class FBO. After relocating to Dallas, Pepper became the President of Million Air and the owner of the Million Air Franchise Company. Later, in the year 2000, he led the acquisition of Atlantic Aviation.
Ronald Draper, CEO Textron Aviation
Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award
Ron Draper, President and CEO of Textron Aviation, has overseen the growth of Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker brands, shaping the future of aviation innovation. A West Point graduate, Draper served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and brings decades of leadership in aviation manufacturing and community service.
Randy Waldman
Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award
Randy Waldman, renowned Hollywood musician and helicopter instructor, has turned his passion for aviation into a second career. As a certified flight instructor in Southern California, he teaches across various helicopter models, blending technical mastery with artistic precision.
Burt Rutan
Dr. Sam B. Williams Technology Award
Burt Rutan (born June 17, 1943) is a retired American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur. He designed the record-breaking Voyager, which in 1986 was the first aircraft to fly around the world without refueling. His suborbital spaceplane design SpaceShipOne became the first non-government, privately funded manned spacecraft to fly to space, winning the Ansari X-Prize for achieving the feat twice within a two-week period in 2004.
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